Gas-generator



' v UNITEDy STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EORDYCE A. LYMAN, 0E CLEVELAND, oHIo.

GAS-GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 275,677', dated April 10, 1883. Application tiled January 12, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that LFORDYGE A. LYMAN, of Clev`eland,in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Generators; and l do hereby declare the following` to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in gas-generators; and it consists in certain features of construction andcombinations of parts, as'will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is providean apparatus that will generate gas in larger quantities than those devices known as vapor-burn ers.7 In the latter class the generating and consuming the gas are usually accomplished in the same device, while my new device is designed to supply gas for light or heat at points remote or near to the generator.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical sectional view ot' a gas-generator that embodies my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are views in detail of portions of Fig. 1.

A is a retort, preferably tubular, and expandinglaterallyinto a broad vaporizin g-chamber at A', and terminating above in the end a, that may be made detachable. This end is provided with the valve a and a threaded projection ataz, suitable for attaching a dischargepipe. The lower end of the retort is provided in the usual manner with a supply-pipe at a3, and the driptube a4. Directly under the chamber A is placed the air and vapor commingling and combustion chamber B. This chamber has an annular opening on top around the retort A, and is provided with a ring of perforated metal, b2, extending from the edge of the chamber around said opening to the bottom of the chamber-in fact, dividing the chamber into two parts. The chamber Bis provided with the opening b, that may be made funnelshaped, if so desired, and also with the tube b', when necessary. The chamber B may be modiiied in size and shape, as shown in Fig. 2 at B., In fact, the only limit to extending it in this direction is the length of the tubular 5o part ofthe retort A. To some part of the retort-preferably the chamber A'-is attached the hollow arm C. This arm is provided with the valve c, that is so arranged as to discharge gas through the opening b into the chamber B. To the arm C is also attached the tube c', leading under the said arm, and provided at c2 with a mouth-piece, that is better shown in enlarged section view, Fig. 3, in which are shown the orifices c, where air is admitted to commin'gle in the enlarged mouthpiece with the gas from the tube c'.

The operation of'my device is as follows: A quantity of hydrocarbon oil having been admitted to the retort A through the supplytube a3, heat is applied to the arm U and the adjacent parts until sufficient gas is formed to pass from the valve c through the opening b into the chamber B and support combustion therein. After this the external heat is discontinued. as the device will then be self-operating. Vapor from the vaporizing-chainber Al is by means of the hollow arm C and the valve c projected through the opening b into the chamberB. The opening b is somewhat large as compared with the size of the jet of vapor aforesaid issuing from the valve c. By reason ofthe force of this jet and the size and shape of the opening b, a large quantityof air is drawn into the chamber B, where it is commingled with the said vapor, and is forced through the perforations in the plate b2 into that portion of the chamber immediately surrounding the retort. Here, coming in contact and commingling with more air, the product ot' air and vapor is ignited. .The current of 85 air and vapor through the perforated plate b2 is such as to press the. burning mass against and wrap it around the tubular portion of the retort, and in this condition it passes up until it comes in contact with the broad chamber A', where an intense heat is concentrated and a large amount of it absorbed into the said chamber A', forming gas in the retort rapidly.

In a former device for which Letters Patent No. 255,553 were granted in March, 1882, a chamber similar to B was shown, but operating only as a commingling-chamber. The perforated cylinder extended from thetop of the chamber to a plate above, and the combustion took place outside of the said perforated cylin- IOO der, instead of inside the chamber B and the perforated cylinder and next to the retort A, asis the case in any new device.

When light oil is used no auxiliary burners or combustion is necessary. When heavy oils are used it will be necessary to apply heat to the arm C, in order to prevent the condensation of gas in this part. For this purpose I have the bent tube b', leading from the commingling-chamber B under the arm C, andthrough which the product of commingled air and gas is conducted and burned underthe said arm. Also, I have the tube c', conveying gas from the generator A', and burning it also under the said arm, tirst, however, combining and commingling it with suitable quantities ot' air in the mouth-piece ci, heretofore described. Either or both or neither of these tubes may be used to keep the arm C at the proper tem perature. The use of these auxiliary heaters will depend entirely upon the kind and gravity of the oil used in the retort.

In using the enlarged commingling and com bustion chamber B', as shoivn in Fig. 2, good results may be obtained by leaving out the perforated plate b2. In this case the combustion takes place generally through the chamber B', surrounding and comingin direct contact with the retort A.

It is evident that by extending the chamber as shown at B', Fig. 2, a larger surface of the retort A will be inclosed in the said chamber, and consequently will be enveloped in the burning vapors that fill the chamber, and thus will be generated a greater amount of gas in the retort A. For all ordinary purposes, however, I prefer the perforated ring b2, as causing better combustion and giving more satisfactoryv results generally.

1. In a gas-generator, the combination, with the retort terminating at its top in alaterallyextended generating-chamber, of the pipe-connection and valve connected with said chamber for connecting with an external supplypipe, and suitable pipes and valves for transferrin g gas from the generating-chamber to the combustion and combining chamber independently ofthe external supplyconnections, substantially as described.

2. In a gas-generator, aehamber inclosinga portion ot' the retort, and provided with an opening on top, around thcsad retort, and divided by a perforated cylindrical plate into two parts, the outer part forming a comminglingchamber and the inner part next the retort forming a combustion-chamber, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a gas-generator, the combination, with the commingling and combustion chamber B, provided with the perforated partition b2, ot' the enlarged vaporizing-chamber A', forming a part of the retort, and so situated as to receive the volume ot" heat as it issues from the chamber B, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a gas-generator,lhe combination, with the retort and its extended generatin g-cham ber and theeonibustionandcombiningchambersurrounding said retort and having the opening b, of the hollow arm C, provided with valve c, pipe c', leading from said hollow arm, and the pipe b', leading from the combustion and combining chamber and terminating adjacent to the end ot said pipe c', substantially as described.

In testimony whereot'I sign this specification in the presence of tivo witnesses, this 6th day of January, 1883.

FORDYGE ALLEN LYMAN.

\Vitnesses:

C. H. Donna, l JNO. CROWELL, Jr. 

